The federal government does not currently require that state entities or private organizations administer sexual harassment prevention training to employes. Though, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) does strongly encourage employers to provide “regular, interactive, comprehensive training of all employees…” and that it “ensure that the workforce understands organizational rules, policies, procedures, and expectations, as well as the consequences of misconduct.”
In addition to this, many states recommend that harassment prevention training be administered on a regular basis. States that recommend regular training include but are not limited to Idaho, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, and South Dakota. Many states also mandate that some or all state employees receive sexual harassment prevention training. This list includes Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington. The following table indicates effective harassment training recommendations from the EEOC.
Pending bill to make training required
New Jersey
New Jersey currently does not require sexual harassment training, though pending Senate Bill 3352, employers may soon be required to train all employees within one year of the bill\’s enactment. There are also similar bills in the NJ legislature. The U.S.Equal Employment Opportunity Commission(EEOC) also strongly encourages employers to provide “regular, interactive, comprehensive training of all employees…” and that it “ensure that the workforce understands organizational rules, policies, procedures, and expectations, as well as the consequences of misconduct.”
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania currently requires that all state employees receive sexual harassment training. Additionally, the pending Restaurant Anti-Harassment Act House Bill 3351 would require that all restaurant employees receive training. Keep in mind that the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) does strongly encourage employers to provide “regular, interactive, comprehensive training of all employees…” and that it “ensure that the workforce understands organizational rules, policies, procedures, and expectations, as well as the consequences of misconduct.”
Note on Massachusetts
Massachusetts does require that employers provide sexual harassment training to employees, this bill M.G.L. c. 151B § 3A(e) would require that all new employees be trained within the first year of employment. Additionally, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) does strongly encourage employers to provide “regular, interactive, comprehensive training of all employees…” and that it “ensure that the workforce understands organizational rules, policies, procedures, and expectations, as well as the consequences of misconduct.”
